If your kids are mixing in school

[Morph2lcfc]

Are you letting them mix outside school?

I’m referring to primary school age kids that need supervision not teenagers. We are lucky enough to have a school place this time as ds has an ehcp. One of our neighbours kids have school places I’ve no idea of the reason and it’s not really my business. Today is one of the kids birthdays and they’ve had friends round all day few at a time. I’m not so bothered for our point of view but it feels like a real kick in teeth to other people in the street who are struggling to home school and isolate.

Despite this though, children in England shouldn't be playing within one another's homes or in big groups outside elsewhere as it increases the risk for all the people they then come into contact with.

Abraxan our school is certainly trying to adhere to open windows, staying in fixed seats, no contact, only thing that's less is sanitizing, main touch points, tables, chairs get done four times daily.

I did see a lovely sight, two ten year olds racing up and down pavements on either side of a road, they were having great fun and joking with eachother. They saw me and were worried, but they weren't doing anything wrong and I even had a joke with them myself.

@stayingaliveisawayoflife I know children who are at home are having regular play dates
@RedskyBynight

And there are plenty of children at home who haven’t had any in person contact with another child since December!

People allowing their kids to mix indoors or in groups are selfish fuckers! Doubly so if their children are already getting to go to school, be around other children and receive an education in school without parents trying to work from home and teach them!

I wish England had the under 12’s rule that allows primary school children to see other primary school children outside. England’s rule of one to one contact outside is really unfair to children not old enough to go out with a friend alone.

This is one of the reasons why I'm glad that I'm not in England as under twelves can mix outside in groups and not have to keep distance. They also don't count towards group members. This has really helped mine and my older ones have also met friends as their mental health is my priority. They didn't see anyone during the original lockdown and really suffered badly which on top of already iffy mental health was not good at all.

Horrendous how so many kids are being unable to do this especially after so long. I'm in no way blaming parents at all. I feel so sorry for them which is why it annoys me so much about the people taking the piss with the rules but I can understand why some do especially when certain officials haven't stuck to them and the whole feeling that nobody else is so why should I do...

Even I've felt at times what is the point and I've always stuck to them....

@beckypv

Our school put a message in the newsletter to say that if children/families are breaking the rules outside of school they will have their ‘childcare place’ withdrawn. I completely agree that letting kids mix with each other just because they are at school together is a massive kick in the teeth to the children stuck at home. And when teachers / TA hear the kids talk about it in school, they will be pretty annoyed too.

This.

And it is a kick in the teeth. Especially when Mummy A drops Child B's things off at school from their sleepover at Child A's house and is on her way to do the same to Child C at home, who couldn't be left out just because she wasn't at school with the others!

Our head however wants to ostrich, whereas we all think a general reminder to all parents that lockdown restrictions apply to all even if in school is needed.

my younger DC is in school two days/week. TBH, the kids she's in with aren't her friends, so she wouldn't want to meet with them outside of school. Even if they were, I wouldn't want her to have the additional contacts outside of school time. Every further contact is additional risk of catching COVID or needing to isolate. I need to be physically in work 2 days/week and would be royally fucked if her bubble burst.

my elder child is (just) old enough to be home alone when I'm at work and not in contact with other kids, other than a very occasional walk in the park with her mate round the corner.

Starfish - I work in infants for 4-7 year olds. There isn't social distancing there nor is it expected within government guidelines.

We do have windows open all day where they are available and open.

Our key stage 1 children have set desks at present. But September to December they were sat shoulder to shoulder with 2-3 per desk as that's the only way to fit them in. Definitely n social distancing as it oh sy ally want possible, right now there's 40-50% of Ks1 classes in so some SD is possible.

Outrageous. My DD is in school as she’s vulnerable due to delays, however we are extremely careful when we are at home. I’m so grateful that she is able to go to school and wouldn’t want to jeopardise the safety of the other children and teachers. She also gets social contact at school so it’s not as if she is deprived of seeing other kids. I can’t believe how selfish some people are.

We have school places for a couple of days per week when I need to be working at the medical school and DH is at his surgery. I am so, so frigging grateful for them. We do not want to be the reason that the bubble(s) burst so absolutely no socialising outside of school - not even at school drop off or pick up - allowed. Every contact counts (just not in the usual NHS way ;))